Owensby studio settles tax debts

Earl Owensby talks movies in front of the sound stages at his studios on Old Boiling Springs Road in 2005. (Star file photo)

By Matthew Tessnear

Published: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at 03:07 PM.

Earl Owensby Studios Inc. has settled its property tax debts and won’t face foreclosure, according to county tax office records.

The studios on Old Boiling Springs Road have been the site of dozens of feature films over the years, including scenes from 1989’s Oscar-winning “The Aybss,” written and directed by James Cameron.

In February, Cleveland County tax office officials said the lengthy foreclosure process was under way for the 65-acre studio lot and nearby two-acre plot due to more than $40,000 in unpaid property taxes from 2010-2012. Officials said that process would take about six months if tax payments were not received as required.

County tax records now show those taxes were paid in full as of June 19.

Owensby could not be reached for comment on the tax payments or upcoming plans for the studios.

In February, he told The Star the studios just hadn’t paid the taxes and planned to settle the debts.

“We’ll get it taken care of in a little bit of time,” Owensby told The Star. “No way in the world am I going through a foreclosure.”

Earl Owensby Studios Inc. has settled its property tax debts and won’t face foreclosure, according to county tax office records.

The studios on Old Boiling Springs Road have been the site of dozens of feature films over the years, including scenes from 1989’s Oscar-winning “The Aybss,” written and directed by James Cameron.

In February, Cleveland County tax office officials said the lengthy foreclosure process was under way for the 65-acre studio lot and nearby two-acre plot due to more than $40,000 in unpaid property taxes from 2010-2012. Officials said that process would take about six months if tax payments were not received as required.

County tax records now show those taxes were paid in full as of June 19.

Owensby could not be reached for comment on the tax payments or upcoming plans for the studios.

In February, he told The Star the studios just hadn’t paid the taxes and planned to settle the debts.

“We’ll get it taken care of in a little bit of time,” Owensby told The Star. “No way in the world am I going through a foreclosure.”

The main studio lot – site of the filming of “Wolfman,” “Rutherford County Line,” “Rottweiler” and other films – is worth about $1.5 million, according to county records.

Owensby previously told The Star he’s working to attract film projects and produce new movies on the property, where he’s worked since 1973.

The studio’s website currently lists three films – “Wolfman 2,” “Back to Buckstone Mouontain” and “Stars in My Crown” – as current projects.

Reach Matthew Tessnear at 704-669-3331, at mtessnear@shelbystar.com or on Twitter @MatthewTessnear.